The #1 essayist and pure prose stylist in U.S. literature is on grand display in this lavish edition of essays, poems, and passages from Emerson's voluminous journals. The neophyte entering the Emersonian universe, as opposed to the scholar, is best served by Mikics' careful annotations and cogent commentary surrounding these selections, though even the most knowledgeable scholar would benefit.

• Publishers Weekly In his writing, Emerson favored fire imagery, and his own fiery intellect brightens every page of The Annotated Emerson, a wonderful new collection, meticulously annotated by David Mikics... In the lush pages of The Annotated Emerson readers will find that fire still warm, able to illuminate and sear.
• Daniel Dyer - Cleveland Plain Dealer